REVIEW: The Onlies “You Climb The Mountain”

The Onlies You Climb the Mountain

You climb the mountain, truthfully that is what you do and that is how you find your place. Along the way, you discover the world; as you climb, the perspective changes but the lessons you learn along the way solidify your future. The Onlies new release You Climb the Mountain solidifies the band’s upward trajectory. There are a lot of string bands out there, a lot of fast paced fiddlers, but this album secures The Onlies’ place as one of the best in business.

Upon first listen, it was impressive how loose the band was in shaping the 15 renditions of classic back porch string songs. From the title track to “The Moonlight Song” each song holds to the traditional version while simultaneously taking liberties where they can find the space to do so. To compare, I tried to find the earliest recorded version of each song available publicly, listened with intentionality and then played The Onlies version. To say they are talented and inventive is a severe understatement – they are fantastic!

The Onlies are comprised of Sami Braman, Riley Calcagno, Vivian Leva, and Leo Shannon with Nokosee Fields and Alice Gerrard. Fiddles, bass, banjo, harmonica, vocals, and guitars are interspersed throughout (See liner notes for specific instrumentation per song). The album was produced by The Onlies and mastered by Mike Monserrat. It was mixed by Joel Savoy and Riley Calcagno, and recorded in four different studios. The absolutely outstanding album art is by Nokosee Fields. It is a perfect cover for the album and shows an expressive hulking mountain composed of windows and multiple arcades, with the lettering at the top. Not sure if it was done specifically for the album, but it feels like it and it displays the same hand made quality as the instrumentation throughout the album.

“I Ne’er Shall Ween Her” is one of the highlight tracks on the album as well as the surprisingly beautiful “Loving Hannah.” When they play Irish fiddle classics, their sound goes otherworldly. Fortunately, I am fairly familiar with the music as my youngest daughter does Irish dance. It was a sheer pleasure listening to this alongside her. We listened to a number of tunes on it repeatedly and she even came up with her own routine for “Pretty Little Miss.”

Harkening back to the traditional but playing with modern stylistic overtures is a way to showcase the immense talent of the band. Though they’ve been together since before they could drive, some 20 plus years ago, the sound is fresh, even considering it’s primarily classics. Despite the tradition woven into the album, the showcase song is brand new and was written by Sami Braman after a visit to the mountains, “Spectacle Lake.” It’s joyous and refreshing. It feels happy and the lilt in it is prime for dancing. Hopefully, the little one chooses this for her solo routine!

The Onlies have put together an absolutely fabulous album. You Climb the Mountain is more than just bluegrass. It’s an album with multiple new renditions of traditional songs and these versions are excellently crafted and played. The songs highlight the skills, talent and hard work it takes to be a successful string musician. They are on point throughout the entirety of the album. This is one we’ll be listening to for quite some time. The historical overtures are refreshing and highly enjoyable. Great album by a great band!

You can find more information on BandCamp or here on their website: https://www.theonlies.com

Track List:

1. You Climb the Mountain (2:15)
2. Gold Watch and Chain (3:49)
3. Roll on Buddy (3:08)
4. Pretty Little Miss (2:29)
5. Hook and Line (2:46)
6. Waves on the Sea (2:54)
7. I Will Arise (3:08)
8. Cumberland Gap (2:34)
9. Loving Hannah (5:04)
10. Spectacle Lake (2:53)
11. I Ne’er Shall Wean Her (4:28)
12. Keg of Brandy (3:37)
13. Cluck Old Hen (2:55)
14. Matty Groves (6:47)
15. The Moonlight Song (3:45)